Explosive-engine.



No. 712.805. Patented Nov. 4,1902.

y w. L. JunsoN. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Application led Apx. 25, 1901. Renewed July 3, 1902.) (No Model.) A l0 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 7|2,so5; l Patented Nov. 4, |9152.

W'. L. JUDSUN.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Applicatiog led Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed July 3, 1902.)

l0 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 4, |902.

I0 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 4, |902.

w. L. JunsoN. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed July 3, 1902.)

lvl) Sheets-Sheet 4.

(N0 Model.)

Fs c'o moraumo.. wAsHmGm, D. c,

TH: Norms Ps1 No. 7|2,805. Patented Nov. 4, i902.

W. L. JUDSON.

EXPLOSI'VE ENGINE.

(Application led Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed July 3, 1902.) (No Model.) I0 Sheets-Sheet 5.

No. 7|2,805. Patented Nov. 4, |902.

W. L. JUDSN.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Application led Apr. 25, 1901. Renewd July 3, 1902,)

I0 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(N0 Model.)

15a/MZ??? 2. 0 w 4, V. o N d e t n e t a P N. o S D u l.. L w 5. 0 8, m 7 a N EXPLUSIVEv ENGINE.

`\Applica.tion^ lad Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed July 8, 1902.)

l0 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

YHE NORRIS PKTERS C0 PHOTOLITHC., WASHINGTON, D. C.

No. 7|2,o5. Patented Nov. 4, |902.

w. L. JunsoN.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1901. Ren-ewed July 3, 1902.)l (No Modei.) l0 Sheets-*Sheet 8.

TH: Nonms Prins co., Pnmaumc.. wAsNmmoN. n. c.

lo. 7|2,3o5. f Patented Nov. 4, |902. w. L. .|unsoN.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed July 3, 1902.)

(No Model.) I0 Sheets-Sheet 9.

No. 7|2,805. Y Patented Nov. 4, |902.

' W. L. JUDSN.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Application led Apr. 25, 1901,v Renewed July-3, 1902.)

-(No Modell) I0 Sheeis--Sheet I0.

www l Y ,k 57 imm/9.5, Si@ m UNTTTJ STaTns wHi'rcoMB L. JUDsoN,

PATENT Gatica.

O F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ExPLosavE-ENGINE.

SEEFICATION forming part of Lettersdatent No. 712,805, dated November 4, 1902.

Application led April 2d, 1901. Renewed J To all whom, it ntcty concern:

Improvements in Explosive-Engines; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full,"

' clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to lwhich it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to explosiveengines, and is especially directed to the improvement of that type of multicylinder explosive-engineset forth and claimed in my prior application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed January 11, 1901, Serial No. 42,894, entitled Explosive-Engines.

The invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices, hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein like characters indic-ate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation, showl ing an engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the engine, some parts being broken away,

said view being on a larger scale than Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately'on the line o23 @0370i Fig'. 2, but in the same scale as Fig. 1. Fig. LL is a vertical section on the line x4 x4 ot Fig. 3. transverse vertical section taken approxi,-

matel on the line x5 055 of Fig. 3, some arts y e D being broken away and others being shown in full. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line e36 Q06 ot Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is atransverse vertical section approximately on the irregular line 097 007 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail in plan, showing one of the ball-retainers anda single ball held thereby. Fig. 9 is a section on the line mi mi of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section on the line x10 0010 of Fig. 3, some part-s being broken away. Fig. 11 isa detail showing one of the wormgears of the valve mechanism. Fig. 12 is a section on the line 5012 w12 of Fig. 1l. Fig. 13 is a section on the line 9613.111301? Fig. l1. Fig. let is a detail showing one of the cylinders and cooperating piston, takenV approximately on theline x14/w14 of-Fig. 5,- some parts being Fig. is av IulyiS, 1902. Serial No. 114,272. (No model.)

broken away and others being shown in full. Fig. 15 is a section on the line w15 'of Fig. 14, some parts being broken away. Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic section showing the several cylinders projecting on radial lines, indicating their relative positions, but with the said cylinders cut by radial planes and turned fiat on the sheet.

The cylinder-casting a is ofthe proper form to afford a series of cylinders ct', opened at their rear or right-hand ends, as viewed in Fig. ,3, and closed at their front or left-hand ends and arranged in a circle concentric to a common axis, like the chambers of a revolver. As shown, seven cylinders are provided, but this number may of course be varied. The casting a, is also formed with an annular gassupplychainberorvalve-chest a2,having ports leading to the inner ends of the respective cylinders a', but normally closed by springpressed intake-valves cts, mounted in removable radially-seated plugs a4. The said casting a is also of proper form to afford a conimon annular exhaust-chamber ctgwhich corny mnnicates through exhaust-passages cts with the inner ends of the respective cylinders. The exhaust-passages e are normally closed by spring-pressed exhaust-valves a7, that are also mounted in removable plugs ots, which, for a purpose which will hereinafter' appear, are provided with projecting hubs a9, through which project the stems of the exhaust-valves co7. A supply-pipe e' leads to the annular gaschamber or valve-chest a2, and au exhaustpipe z' leads fromthe annular exhaust-chamber d5. iiuid, the supply-pipe e' would lead from a suitable carbureteroratomizer. (Not shown.)

The annular valve-chest a2 is provided with one or more (as shown seven) ports d10, that are normally closed by yieldingly-held safetyvalves all. These Valves ct readily open to relieve from back explosions, which may take place within the said annular valve-chest a2.

At. the axial center ot the casting or is a shaft-bearing Q12, in which the driving-shaft b is mounted to run. Atits rear end the shaft b projects and works in the hub-like hearings als of a heavy drum-like housing d of suitable construction, rigidly securable to the cyl- In a similar manner a heavy inder-castingct.

W'hen gasoleue is used as a motive' lOO housing (L15 is secured to the forward portion of the cylinder-casting, and the forward 'end of the shaft l) is journaled in a suitable hub portion (L1G thereof.

In the construction illustrated the stationary framework, made up of the cylinder-casting (L and housing (L11 and (L15, is to be supported by heavy rods, (not shown,) which will be clamped by keeper-hearings (L17, (L18, and (L19 on the parts (L and (L11.

The cylinder-casting (L is cored out or cast hollow, so as to form a water-chamber (L20, which nearly embraces the cylinders (L' and is provided with water inlet and outlet pipes (L21 and (L22, respectively. As shown in Fig. 3, a suitable centrifugal pump (L23, which is driven by the shaft l), works at the junction of the inlet-pipe (L21 with the water-chamber (L20.

(L24 indicates an oil cup or pocket located on the forward wall of the housing (L11 and provided with an oil-distributing duct (L25 for delivering,r the oil to the bearing (L12.

(L2G indicates a similar oil cup or pocket located on the rear wall of the housing (L11 and provided with an oil-duct (L27, which leads to the bearing (L12. Vorking within the housing (L14 and rigidly secured on the shaft b isa crank afforded by a head or block b', the face of which is annular and extends in a plane which oblquely intersects the axis of the said shaft Z1. On the oblique face of the crank b' is a loosely-seated thrust ring c, set in the same plane relative to the axis of the shaft b as is the oblique face of the said crank b'. Between the face of the oblique crank b and the thrust-ring c is a plurality of balls (l, held by a perforate spacing-ring (1.. Between the outer face of the thrust-ring c and a retaining-plate b2 on the hub of the crank-head b is another series of bearing-balls (Z2, held by the spacing-ring d2 of the same construction, except as to size, as the said spacing-ring CZ'.

The thrust-ring is provided witha plurality of ball-sockets c', (as shown seven, tocorrespond to the number of cylinders,) the outer sections of which are shown as afforded bya common keeper-ring c2, bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the said thrust-ring c.

At one point the thrust-ring c is also provided with a radially-projecting stud or pin c3, on which is loosely journaled a roller c4, which serves as a cross-head.

The roller or cross-head c4 works in a segmental channel-shaped guide c5, which is rigidly secured at its end to the end walls of the housing (L11. The guide cactingon the roller or cross-head c1,holds the thrust-ringe against rotation with respect to the cylinder-casting,

but permits the same a free wabbling motion under the action of the crank-head b.

Vorking within each cylinder (L is a pistonf, as shown, of cup-like form. The several pistons fare connected to their respective sockets c' of the thrust-ring c by means of resilient piston-rods or pitmen afforded by heavy spiral springs f', pivotally connected to the interiors of said pistons at f2 and connected to said sockets at their other ends by balls or heads f2.

In my prior invention I employed resilient piston rods or pitmen which would yield slightly under the force of the explosions. However, in the said prior device the said pitmen or rods were so stiff that they would not yield under the force applied to them in compressing the charge.

As a feature of my present invention, as indicated in the general statement, these resilient piston-rods orpitmen are made of such tension or strength that they will yield materially under the com pressing-stroke, thereby giving an increased explosion chamber or space at the inner end of the cylinder, and under the exhaust-stroke will extend to their normal lengths,and thereby force the piston close to the in ner end of the cylinder and completely clear the cylinder of the products of the explosion. This feature is important and I believe new.

In the diagram view, Fig. 1G, and in the sectional views et and 5 the direction in which the crank-shaft b is assumed to be rotated is indicated by arrows marked at the central portions of such figures, and the observer is supposed to be looking at the said parts from the front end of the machine or from that end which projects totheleftinFig-3. Theseveral individual straight-line engines afforded by the cylinders (L and coperating parts are marked consecutively in the direction of the rotation of the shaft b by the numerals 1 to 7, inclusive. This is done to make clear certain illustrations hereinafter given.

In considering the most important feature of my present invention-to wit, the arrangement of the flame duct-s or passages between the cylinders-attention is particularly directed to Figs. 5, 14, and 15. These flame tubes or ducts may take any suitable form, either, as shown, by coring them into the main casting (L or otherwise forming them; but in practice they would probably be most conveniently afforded by small gas-pipe or similar tubing. In the drawings said dame-ducts are indicated by the letter g, and it will be noted that in this fore-cycle construction they connect alternate cylinders. More specifically stated, said ducts g connect said cylinders (L in the following order-to wit, 1 3 5 7 2 4 b' l. In this manner, it will be observed, the cylinders are connected in an endless series, so that the explosion in the order indicated will be repeated over and over again.

From what has just been stated it of course follows that an explosion in a particular cylinder will take place only once in two complete rotations of the shaft f) and that of two adjacent cylinders one will receive the explosion under one rotation of said shaft, while the other will receive the explosion under the next rotation thereof. v

By reference particularly to Fig. 14 it will be noted that the outlet ends of the ports g IIO open from the cylinders a' at their intermediate portions, while the other ports open into said cylinder at their extreme inner ends. In each port or llame-duct g is a check-valve g', (shown as aiforded by a balk) which checkvalve permits the free llow of the flame into the inner end ol Vthe cylinder, but closes under the force of the explosion and prevents a back or reverse flow. The month of the outleading port or duct g isvordinarily closed by the cooperating piston f, but is opened when the said piston movesoutward nearly or quite to its extreme position. The location of this mouth of the outgoing port must, however, depend on the number and relation of the cylinders-that is, the arrangement must be such that each cylinder will have its charge exploded when the crank stands in the proper position relative thereto.

Working within the housing @15 is a spiderlike bracket 7e, which has a central sleeve 7s', mounted to slide loosely on the shaft l) and provided at its projecting end, outward ol the housing a, with a head 7a2. Each prong of the bracket 7o is provided with a sleeve 7e3, which slides loosely on one of the hubs a9 of the removable bushings a8, noted in the early part of the description. The said bracket 7c is thus held against rotation, but with freedom for a limited sliding movement in the direction of the axis of the crank-shaft l). Springs 704 yieldingly hold the bracket 7c in its extreme position toward the right with respeet to Fig. 3.

Loosely mounted on bearing-studs 755, one on each arm of the bracket 7a, is a plurality of .radially-disposed worin-gears k6, in number seven,`to correspond to the number of cylinders, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In proper location to mesh with all of the wormgears k6 the crank-shaft b is provided with a worm or screw 707. Each worm-gear 7e carries a so-called trip-cam kg, each ot' which, as shown, has four projecting arms or points located in position for successive action on the projecting stem of the corresponding exhaustvalve a7, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 16.

With the four-cycle arrangement it is evi# dent that a particular exhaust-valve should be opened once for every two rotations of the shaft 7) and that it will be opened with the arrangement'described four times for each complete rotation of the conresponding wormwheel k6 and trip-cam ks. In other words, the trip-cam ks should be given each a oneeighth rotation for each rotation ofthe crankshaft b. By providing worin-gears with thirtytwo teeth and by providing the worm or screw 71:7 with four parallel threads this timing is accomplished.

In the diagram view, Fig. 16, the relative positions of the trip-camels7 to the stems ofthe cooperating exhaust-valves al and the relative positions of the several pistons and of the in- .take and exhaust valves at the instant the explosion is taking place in the cylinder l are fully illustrated. By reference to said diagram View, Fig. 16,7it will be noted that the piston of the engine No. l stands some little distance-an inch, for instance-from the inner ends of the cylinder. This, as will be remembered, is due to the fact that the spring piston-rod has yielded to that extent under the compressing force required to compress the charge. The cylinder of engine No. 2 is exhausting, but the piston thereor` has not yet reached its extreme innermost position. When the said piston reaches its extreme innerm ost position, it will stand approximately at the extreme inner end ofthe said cylinder, due to the fact that the spring piston-rod has assumed its maximum length, as also previously pointed out.

At the right-hand or rear end ol` the machine the crank-shaft b is provided with a fly-wheel m and, as shown, also with a gear n, from the latter of which power may be transmitted. Pivoted to the fly-wheel m is a pair of weighted governor-levers m', of bellcrank form, the weighted ends of which are yieldingly drawn inward by springs m2 connecting them, as shown in Fig. l0. The inturned arms m3 of said levers m. (see Figs. 3 and 10) are provided with pins which work in the an nnlar groove of a loose sliding collar 'm4, mounted on the hub of the housing am.

The sliding collar m4 is connected at m5 to the arms of a shipper-lever m6, pivoted at m7 to the housing am. The lower arm of the said lever fm6 is connected by a rod ms to the lower end of another shipper-lever m9, pivoted to a bracket m10 on the forward plate of the housing 0,15. The intermediate portion of this lever m9 is bifurcated and is pivotally connected to the. collar 7a2, previously noted as secured on the sleeve 7c' of the sliding bracket With this construction when a predetermined maxium speed of the engine has been reached or closely approached the weighted ends of the levers m' will be thrown outward, and through the connections described the bracket 7e will be moved bodily forward ortoward the left with respect to Fig. 3. Under normal conditions when an arm or prong of a trip-cam 76S engages the corresponding valvestem it will hold that exhaust-valve open during approximately a one-half rotation of the crankshaft; but as the bracket 7c is moved forward, carrying with it the worm-gears 706 and cams 7x38, the time during whiclf'the said exhaust-valves will beheld open will be gradually decreased until the said trip-cams are thrown entirely out of action. The speed oi' the engine will of course be varied by thus varying the opening of the exhaust and the explosions will cease whenever the said exhaust-valves are no longer open., It is of course evident that as soon as the speed of the engine is suliciently decreased the parts of the valve-gear will be restored to operative positions and will assume their normal functions. n

The electric igniting device for use in starting the engine andrunning the same until it IIO has acquired a predetermined initial speed may take various forms, but is conveniently arranged as illustrated in the drawings and best shown in 3, Li, and 5 and detail views 1l and 12.

I prefer to employ ordinary jump-spark plugs ordevic'esj), having electrodes p,which, as shown, are exposed in pockets p2, that open directly into the inner ends of the rcspective cylinders. Main-circuit wires p3, which extend to and from the suitable source of current-supply, are provided with branch or shunt circuits p4, that extend to and from the severalsparking-plugs p, as shown in Fig. 4. Each shunt-circuit p* includes a pair of brushes or contact-pieces p5, between which the circuit is normally broken. Each wormwheel k6 is provided with four insulated contact studs or screwsp, which are arranged to move with a properly-timed action between the laterally-projecting ends ot the said contact-pieces p5, and thereby close the circuit and cause a spark and explosion within the corresponding cylinder.

The main circuit 293 (see Fig. 8) includes a pair of contact-pieces p7, shown as secured to and insulated from the outer plate of the housing am. The outer contact-piece p7 is under spring tension to separate from its mate and is provided with an outturned portion, which when the engine is standing still or running slowly is engaged by the sliding collar m4, and thereby held in engagement wit-h its said mate. V'hen, however, a certain initial speed has been acquired, the weighted governor-levers m will be thrown slightly outward, the collar m" will be moved slightly toward the left, and the main circuit will be broken between the contacts 797, so that the entire sparking device will be rendered inoperative.

The function of maintaining the proper eX- plosions will of course, as already stated, be Ihen taken up by the igniting flame-tube.

The letter t indicates relief-cocks which are normally closed, but which when opened reduce the amount of compression which will be given to the charges in the various cylinders. These relief-cocks will be opened up to start the engine and will be closed after The engine is under good speed.

It will of course be understood l'rom what has already been said that the several features of my invention, and especially the arrangement of igniting flame-tubes between the cylinders, maybe modified in many ways within the scope of my invention.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A multicylinder explosive-engine having its cylinders connected in an endless series by dame-ducts, the last of which connects thev last cylinder with the explosionchamber of the first cylinder, whereby the charges in the several cylinders are exploded in a continuous recurring order.

2. A muliicylinder explosive-engine having its cylinders connected in an endless series by flame-ducts, check-valves in said Haine-ducts, the last of the said ducts serving to connect the last cylinder with the explosion-chau'iber of the first cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

A multicylinder explosive-engine having flame-ducts which connect, in an endless order of succession, the intermediate and end portions of the several cylinders, the last duct connecting the last cylinder in the explosionchamber ot' the iirst cylinder, and pistons of the said engine working as valves to open and close the said ducts, substantially as described.

4. A multicylinder explosive-engine of the four-cycle type, having an odd number of cylinders, and dame-ducts extending between alternate cylinders and connecting the said cylinders in an endless series, substantially as described.

5. A lnnlticylinder explosive-engine of the four-cycle type, havingan odd number of cylinders, flame-ducts extending between alternate cylinders and connecting the several cylinders in an endless series, check-valves in said flame-ducts, and with the pistons within the several cylinders operating as valves, to open and close said dame-ducts in the proper order, substantially as described.

G. In a m ulticylinder explosive-engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders in parallel arrangement and pistons working therein, of a crank-shaft parallel with the said cylinders, and provided with an obliquely-set crank, a thrust -ring on said oblique crank and spring piston-rods or pitmen connecting said pistons to said thrustring, which spring-rods are of such tension that they will yield under the force required to compress the charge, substantially as described.

7. In a multicylinder explosive-engine, the combination with a crank-shaft having an obliquely-set crank, of a non-rotary thrustring seated on said crank, a plurality of cylinders disposed in parallel arrangement around said shaft, pistons working in said cylinders, pitman-rods or links connecting said pistons and thrust-ring, and relief-cocks opening from said cylinders, intermediate of the extreme position of the inner ends ot' said pistons,for reducing the compression in starting the engine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

VVHITCOMB L. J UDSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. YOUNG, JAS. M. SKEAFF.

IOO

IZO 

